National Seed Plan with potato seed producers in Nariño

Pasto, Nariño. May 5, 2023. On April 11, 17, and 18, 2023, the “11^th Workshop” of the Potato Seed Plan (Plan Semilla Papa) was carried out with three potato seed-producing organizations from the municipalities of Samaniego, Contadero, and Potosí.

Thirty-four producers of the associations “COOINPROSAM,” “ASOFORCAM,” and “La Esperanza” participated in these workshops, whose main objective was to reaffirm the technical, financial, and socioeconomic concepts to make progress in their strengthening as seed producers.

One of the contents addressed during these conferences was the requirements to register as seed producers based on ICA resolution 3168 formally. This seeks to consolidate and close an advanced training cycle with these organizations to enable them to manage their self-supply of seed and formally consolidate themselves as seed producers.

Bayardo Yepes, Researcher of the Obonuco Research Center, indicated that “…These sessions allowed the seed committees to remember and recognize what are the requirements to be able to register with ICA as a seed producer and what would be the potential advantages that each association has if it dedicates to formal seed production. In addition, it is important to highlight that the COOINPROSAM association of Samaniego has already registered before ICA and is working on seed production. It currently has batches with mini tubers and also batches with basic seeds. Their work can serve as an example for other organizations in the region.….”